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Loring Park leaders begin crafting development guidelines

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February 7, 2005 // UPDATED 1:51 pm - April 26, 2007

By: Sarah McKenzie

Sarah McKenzie

Loring Park neighborhood leaders serving on a newly formed Loring Hill task force are holding a community meeting Monday, Feb. 7, at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave., to begin crafting development guidelines for the hilly stretch of Loring Park.

Loring Hill - bounded by Lyndale and LaSalle Avenues, West 15th Street and Interstate-94 - has experienced intense development pressure in recent months. Several residential construction projects are underway and more projects are in the pipeline.

The task force was organized partly in response to a neighborhood battle over a proposed 21-story condo tower at 401 Oak Grove St. called Parc Centrale. Several residents organized to oppose the plan, which the Minneapolis Planning Commission and the City Council later rejected. Residents objected to the project's proposed height, arguing it would be out of context with nearby historic mansions.

The developer, Brad Hoyt of Wayzata-based Continental Development, and architect Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle have since revised their proposal and resubmitted a six-story, 74-unit development plan to the city.

The new plan is expected to go before the Planning Commission Feb. 23.

Scott Mayer, a neighborhood resident serving on the task force, said the 16-member committee would help hire a consultant to craft a Loring Hill small-area study. The small-area study will review parking issues and propose a set of guidelines for new residential and commercial development.

Mayer said the goal is to make neighborhood leaders more proactive in vetting development projects instead of reactive and "defensive."